'Blue Shawl' Remark: Bengaluru Special Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Former MP Prathap Simha In SC/ST Act Case

A Bengaluru Special Court has granted anticipatory bail to Prathap Simha, former Member of Parliament from Mysuru, in the alleged 'blue shawl' caste remark case.Judge Shivaprasad K.B., 82nd Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, allowed the petition and noted that the essential ingredients of the offences under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled...

'Case Of Adolescent Love': Gujarat High Court Quashes POCSO FIR, Says Girl Voluntarily Left Parent's Home

The Gujarat High Court quashed a kidnapping and POCSO case against a man after noting that this was a case of "adolescent love" wherein the girl was in relationship with the accused and had voluntarily left her parents home as her father was pressuring her to marry someone else. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 276]The court was hearing a man's plea seeking quashing of an FIR under Sections 363...

Authorized Govt Officer's Complaint Not Needed When Notary Intentionally Participates In Document Forgery: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that an authorized government officer's complaint is not necessary to prosecute a notary, who intentionally participates in document forgery. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 564]Justice A. Badharudeen held that the afore protection provided under Section 13(1) of the Notaries Act would be applicable only when the notary is performing the duties under the statute....

CA Student's Future Earning Potential Must Be Considered While Determining Motor Accident Compensation: AP High Court Triples Award

The Andhra Pradesh High Court enhanced the accident compensation awarded over the death of a 23-year-old Chartered Accountancy student to Rs. 25.38 lakh, holding that the Motor Accident Tribunal failed to adequately consider his educational qualifications and “bright future” while assessing his earning potential. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 238]Dismissing an appeal filed by the Andhra Pradesh...

ED Should Prioritise Cases Involving Public Money, National Scams; Not Private Property Disputes: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently remarked that the Enforcement Directorate should use its powers and resources for cases involving public money, public interest, corruption and scams of national consequences, instead of disputes between private individuals. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 489] Justice N Ramesh commented that the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act are...

Caste-Based Insult Not In 'Public View', Eyewitness Didn't Support Prosecution: Gujarat High Court Upholds SC/ST Act Acquittal

The Gujarat High Court upheld the acquittal of three persons accused of using caste-based slurs and assaulting the complainant, observing that the eyewitness did not support the prosecution case in proving that the alleged derogatory words were used with an intent to insult in public. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 274]It was alleged that the accused persons knew that the complainant belonged to...

Motor Accident Compensation Can Exceed Amount Claimed If Evidence Justifies Higher Award: AP High Court

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal must award the “just compensation” established by the evidence and cannot restrict it merely because the claim petition sought a lower amount. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 237]Section 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 empowers the Claims Tribunal to determine and award the amount of compensation which appears to it to...

'Absence Of Signs Of Resistance Not Ground To Disbelieve Rape Victim': Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand HC has held that the absence of signs of struggle or resistance on the body of a rape victim cannot, by itself, be a ground to disbelieve her testimony, particularly where the victim was a minor and the medical evidence corroborates the occurrence.A Division Bench of Justice Ananda Sen and Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava heard the appeal filed by the appellants challenging...

Karnataka High Court Reserves Order On WinZO's Plea To Shift US Bank Funds Attached By ED

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (October 7) reserved its order on an interim plea moved by WinZO US Inc. and WinZO SG Pte. Ltd. seeking permission to shift funds lying in three US bank accounts to another account in the United States, while keeping the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) attachment intact.The ED opposed the plea, arguing that the attached funds could not be transferred...

Can't Invoke SC/ST Act Against 'Stranger' In Absence Of Specific Intent: Karnataka High Court Quashes Atrocity FIR Against Cameraman

The Karnataka High Court has held that the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 cannot be invoked against a stranger who lacks any specific intent with regard to the offences under the Act. Justice V. Srishananda quashed the criminal proceedings against a cameraman working with a media agency, observing that filming a public...

POCSO Act | “Lethargic Attitude” Of Authorities In Serving Bail Notices Delays Hearings, Affects Liberty Of Accused: Rajasthan High Court

While hearing a bail application in a POCSO case, Rajasthan High Court observed that despite there being detailed guidelines, the manner of service regarding the intimation of bail application to the parents/guardians of the victim, continued to be improper, reflecting "lethargic attitude" of the authorities. The bench of Justice Sandeep Shah opined that due to non-sending of information to...

2016 Rohith Vemula Protest: Karnataka High Court Quashes Case Against 15 Students, Says Assembly Below 250 Persons Didn't Need Permission

The Karnataka High Court has recently quashed criminal proceedings against 15 students who were booked for allegedly assembling without permission and obstructing traffic in Bengaluru during a 2016 a protest over the suicide of student Rohith Vemula, who had ended his life over alleged caste discrimination. The single judge bench of Justice H.P. Sandesh, while allowing the quashing plea,...